The Young W omen s Christian Association in the Turkish Empire National Board of Young Womens Christian Association! 600 Lexington Avenue, New York City November. 1914 the young women's christian association in the turkish empire. The Turkish Empire includes what we usually call "Turkey" in Europe, Turkey in Asia, Syria and Pales- tine. By far the greater number of the inhabitants of the Turkish Empire are resident in Asia, and the Association activities are in that part of the nation except the work which is centered in Constantinople' The Ottoman Empire, which includes distinct nation- alities — Turks, Armenians, Greeks, Kurds, Syrians, Jews, and other races, is also a country of many creeds. Mohammedans form but one tenth of the population of European Turkey. The ancient churches of the Armenians, the Gregorians, the Greek Orthodox and the Catholics, hold their people to an allegiance that is in most cases identical with nationality, and which is stronger than the tie that binds their adherents to the Empire. In spite of the trying and unsettled political conditions in the Turkish Empire, the lack of easy communications and the national and church difficulties, there is coming to the people of the old nations a new and vital religious life. To these heretofore isolated faiths the Association brings, from the West, fresh thought and broadened vision. Missionaries from England, from Germany and from the United States have organized groups of women nto associations, according to the work they had known n their home countries, and they gave cordial welcome to the secretaries from the United States. In 1911, Miss Clarissa Spencer, secretary of the World's Young Women's Christian Association, and Miss Ruth Rouse, of the World's Student Christian Federation, visited Turkey and did much to strengthen and develop the Association idea. Mr. Jacobs, of the Young Men's Christian Association, carried the traveling work of the women's Association up to 1914. In 1914 two secretaries were sent from America to Turkey, at the request of the missionaries working there. Miss Frances Gage, who had previously spent several years in Turkey in connection with church mission work, and who is acquainted with the Turkish language, was sent as traveling secretary for the Empire and Miss Welles took up work in Constantinople. A Union of Christian Organizations has been formed to meet the complex conditions arising from the exist- ence of so many national church organizations. The Young Men's and the Young Women's Christian Associations have established a joint committee which seeks to cultivate mutual understanding and cordial relationships with all the churches. This Committee has its offices in Constantinople, the gateway of the Empire, where the organizing forces of the nation center. Economy of office work, unifica- tion of publications, and a single finance appeal are thus made possible. The women's department of the Union is organized as a national Committee and application for affiliation has been made to the World's Committee of the Young Women's Christian Association and to the World's Student Christian Federation. The Union of Christian Associations lays stress on Bible study, publishing the Association Quarterly with its helps on Bible study, and its notices of newly issued books in the native languages. It forms a link between the various church schools which exist for each separate faith, and promotes a spread of Christian unity. Outside these definite lines of co-operation, each Association, men's or women's, acts independently. During the past months, Miss Gage has been making a study of existing branches, and looking into the conditions of women in the Turkish countries of Asia. In a journey of eleven weeks she traveled ten days by sea, twenty days by wagon, two days on horseback, and twelve days on railway trains, covering 2,500 miles. Because of territorial and language divisions, field committees have been appointed in Syria and Palestine. The city Associations vary. They may include women of Protestant, of Orthodox, and of other faiths, or they may be limited to women of the Gregorian Church. These women responded in large numbers to invita- tions to hear Miss Gage speak on " The preciousness of womanhood". In student Associations Miss Gage held evangelistic meetings, and inspired the membership to active par- ticipation in plans for the progressive development of Turkish women. Her visits were not limited to mission schools, for she included a study of eight Armenian, five Greek national, ten Turkish and ten Catholic institutions. Everywhere the teachers said, "We will be glad to work with you on the problem of the need of standard-setting influences, necessary to the changing conditions among girls." Among laboring women, Miss Gage found con- ditions duplicating those existing in most countries where women are employed. The hours of labor are from sunrise to sunset. Their industries include silk manu- facture, the preparation of tobacco and cotton fabrics, rug making, and lace making. Many tiny children are included in the list of laborers, women having become of more importance since they have assumed wage earning capacity. Miss Welles is now in western Europe and the plans she and Miss Gage had formed for the coming months are interrupted by the war. Miss Gage is facing alone the distressing results of the strife. Travel is impssible but she must keep in touch with as many Associations as are already established. Her days are full of the work of relief for starving and needy women. She is needing our support, our prayers, our faith. When the glad days of peace shall come again, she must be ready to enter the doors, which peace will open; our American Associations must be ready with reinforce- ments. But just now we may work with Miss Gage in the present days of despair that have come to the women of the Turkish Empire.